Creative place-making presentation

WassUp at the Wassenberg Art Center

Beautiful Girls in a Peacock Cage, by Augusto Bordelois, Berea. Bordelois will be a featured exhibitor at the Wassenberg Art Center this summer. (Photo submitted)

By Hope L. Wallace

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Last week we discussed creative place-making. On Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center we will be hosting a presentation discussing that very thing. This will be a luncheon for interested individuals catered by Collins Fine Foods. Lunch begins at noon and is free but an RSVP is required as space is limited.

Even if you do not consider yourself to be interested in the arts, most residents are interested in their surroundings. If you have an interest in your community and its wellbeing you will find the results of this study surprising. Michael Carroll, director of the Center for Regional Development and Katarina Ruedi Ray, director of the school of art at Bowling Green State University will present the findings on the economic impact of the arts in this corner of the world, Northwest Ohio.

This study has given black and white statistics to the economic importance of arts and culture right here in our own back yards. The arts may not be an obvious contributor to a vibrant economy, but the 2.4 billion dollars generated by arts industries in Northwest Ohio alone speak otherwise. If you are interested in attending please contact us here at the Wassenberg Art Center.

Work will begin next week on our own creative place. The first area to be given a spit shine will be the block walls within the Armory. Ryan Spray, of Spray Construction,Van Wert will be power washing the walls to return them to their original condition.

Soda washing is a dry technique that uses granulated baking soda to clear off the grime that has collected over the years. When the work is complete the original walls will looks as they did when the building was constructed. Second, Nick Dancer, Fort Wayne, formerly of Delphos will polish and stain the concrete floors.

Stained concrete is considered one the most durable and low maintenance types of flooring on the market and with future exhibits and events going on, floor damage will be kept to a minimum or nonexistent. The finished results are dramatic and we are all looking forward to the finished floors

Our Window sun-catcher class taught by Jerry Mazur is filling up fast! Learn to make stained glass designs the old-fashioned way. Our windows are filling up with samples and they create a colorful blast of color here at the art center on dreary winter days. This class starts Feb. 6 and runs through Feb. 27 and we take care of all of the supplies.

The Wassenberg Art Student Show & Tell exhibit will open on Saturday, Feb. 9 and run through March 3. Any person who has taken a class with us in the last 2 years is welcome to submit pieces of their work they would like to share. In conjunction with the Wassenberg Art Center art Collection we are taking a look back and forward and it will be interesting to see the evolution of the constant stream of artwork flowing out of this art center.

Please give us a call for all the particulars at the number below if you have something you would like to share. Please submit your artwork by Feb. 6. This exhibit will open on Saturday, Feb. 9 and run through March 3.

Ralph Stuckman of Celina recently donated a clay extruder and pottery wheel for our Art-fitter Campaign. The Wassenberg Art-fitter Campaign is a drive to outfit our new space with the extras that will create an art center limited only to this community's imagination. We wish to thank Ralph for his generosity and for being a constant Wassenberg Champion.

In addition, Ralph will be here starting March 5 to share his latest and greatest techniques of combining clay tiles you make yourself into wooden frames. Check our website for more details on this class or to see our full class, program and workshop line up.

We are happy to announce that Augusto Bordelois, Berea will be sharing his large, color saturated paintings with us during July and August. Augusto, born in Cuba has a style all his own but reminiscent of Diego Rivera and Salvador Dali. Augusto has a poignant story to tell and is reflected in his paintings, which are not only rich in color but rich in symbolism. Augusto's work is represented in private collection in over 12 countries around the world.

We are also pleased to be partnering with the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on another event, "Remembering Rockwell," presented by Ceci Wiselogel and scheduled for March 14 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Visit the Niswonger Performing Arts Center website for ticket information. Tickets are only $5 and this is a great way to learn more about America's favorite illustrator, Norman Rockwell and is the next best thing to a Rockwell museum visit.

If you have any questions regarding the classes or programs and would like to sign up please call the Wassenberg Art Center at (419) 238-6837, email: info@wassenbergartcenter.org or register for classes online at: wassenbergartcenter.org. Hours during exhibits are: Tuesday through Sunday 1-5 p.m. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 South Washington Street in Van Wert.